Gay and lesbian theatre has its beginnings in the Gay Liberation Movement. The plays sought to allow other gays to connect though shared experiences. American society was hard pressed to move aside for this type of theatre. "Before the 1960s, male 'deviants' were depicted as flamboyant effeminates" by society, thus people were hesitant to explore this new type of theatre (Cambridge Guide to ethnic Theatre). Lesbians on the other hand were viewed as dangerous and rough, and this was depicted in the play The Captive (1926). This type of experimental theatre quickly began to grow "Off-Broadway" especially in the wake of the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s that brought more awareness to the gay cause. Many Broadway plays even painted gays in a way that counterattacked against the "encroachment" of the gays like the play The Boys in the Band. "This trend culminated in Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, a shrewd blend of soap opera, Simonized sitcom, and drake queen as clown variant" (Cambridge Guide to Ethnic Theatre). The plays came from Off-Off Broadway all the way to an Tony Award. Other ethnic theatre opposed the gay and lesbian theatre movement, such as the black activist theatre in the 1960s. Yet, in the late 1970s many gay characters were incorporated into the theatre scene. late gay revues offered many flashy commercials like In Gay Company (1975). "Gay producing companies such as The Other Side of the Stage, The Stonewall Theatre, The Glines, Meridian gay Theatre which were dedicated to promoting plays about the gay experience for gay audiences" (Cambridge Guide to Ethnic Theatre). The AIDS crisis even brought to light many plays based on the message more than the presentation. Overall, gay and lesbian theatre has brought to light issues that has faced the LGBT+ community for many generations.
SLB Gay and Lesbian Theatre
Gay and lesbian theatre has its beginnings in the Gay Liberation Movement. The plays sought to allow other gays to connect though shared experiences. American society was hard pressed to move aside for this type of theatre. "Before the 1960s, male 'deviants' were depicted as flamboyant effeminates" by society, thus people were hesitant to explore this new type of theatre (Cambridge Guide to ethnic Theatre). Lesbians on the other hand were viewed as dangerous and rough, and this was depicted in the play The Captive (1926). This type of experimental theatre quickly began to grow "Off-Broadway" especially in the wake of the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s that brought more awareness to the gay cause. Many Broadway plays even painted gays in a way that counterattacked against the "encroachment" of the gays like the play The Boys in the Band. "This trend culminated in Torch Song Trilogy by Harvey Fierstein, a shrewd blend of soap opera, Simonized sitcom, and drake queen as clown variant" (Cambridge Guide to Ethnic Theatre). The plays came from Off-Off Broadway all the way to an Tony Award. Other ethnic theatre opposed the gay and lesbian theatre movement, such as the black activist theatre in the 1960s. Yet, in the late 1970s many gay characters were incorporated into the theatre scene. late gay revues offered many flashy commercials like In Gay Company (1975). "Gay producing companies such as The Other Side of the Stage, The Stonewall Theatre, The Glines, Meridian gay Theatre which were dedicated to promoting plays about the gay experience for gay audiences" (Cambridge Guide to Ethnic Theatre). The AIDS crisis even brought to light many plays based on the message more than the presentation. Overall, gay and lesbian theatre has brought to light issues that has faced the LGBT+ community for many generations.